An essay based on the painting by Igor Grabar “February Azure. Narrative essay based on the painting by I. E. Grabar “February Azure” Grabar artist “February Azure”

1. Introduction: Winter in Rus'
2. “February Azure”: description
3. My impressions of the picture
4. Conclusion: Why did I like it?

Essay describing a painting (for 5th grade)

Mini essay-description “February Azure” by Grabar

Many people don't like winter. Wind, cold, snow drifts make them sad and make them sick. However, there is something majestic and beautiful in this harsh time. It is not for nothing that Russian frosts have become a symbol of Russia and its amulet, because it was they that frightened away our enemies from century to century. Unfortunately, day after day we see only the inconveniences that winter brings us. But artists see it differently. A striking example is Grabar’s landscape “February Azure”.

The description of Grabar’s painting “February Azure” can be summarized in a couple of lines. The artist painted several snow-covered birches against the blue sky. The trees are stuck in the snow. Behind them is a forest. Judging by the color, spruce and pine trees grow there. That's all that is depicted there. But what feelings does it evoke in the viewer? Personally, I felt a sense of pride in the beauty of my native land. The artist conveyed the very time when the first rays of the sun appear, heralding spring. There is still snow, the frost is still being driven away from the street, but the dazzling sun is already dispelling the melancholy and promising warmth. If you look at the sky, you can see the same blue color that you love in the summer. The birches no longer bend to the side under the weight of the snow, they have straightened up and are reaching for the light. Such a landscape brings a smile and hope for the speedy arrival of spring. At such moments, the beauty of our great homeland becomes more noticeable, and artists feel it. Therefore, they draw, at first glance, simple plots, but they choose such a time of year and time of day that ordinary birch trees are transformed and become symbols of our nature. She is as honest, modest and open as this picture. These crooked trunks, dense forests and endless open spaces are very dear to our hearts.

Grabar's painting "February Azure"

I liked this picture because it is sunny and bright. The artist very accurately conveyed all the colors of the February sky, which were reflected in the snow. Therefore, although it depicts winter, it looks like spring. She radiates warmth, which is so lacking on the street now.

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1. Organizational moment.

2. Announcing the topic of the lesson.

3. Biography of the artist.

Igor Emmanuilovich Grabar (1871–1960). Born in Budapest, in the family of a Russian public figure. In 1876, his parents moved to Russia. Igor's childhood was not easy. The boy was often separated from his parents, remaining in the care of strangers. Since childhood, he dreamed of painting, trying to be closer to artistic circles, visited all exhibitions, studied the collection of the Tretyakov Gallery.

From 1882 to 1889, Grabar studied at the Moscow Lyceum, and from 1889 to 1895 at St. Petersburg University at two faculties - law and history and philology. Then he entered the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts and studied in the workshop of Ilya Repin.

During the holidays he travels a lot around Europe: Berlin, Paris, Venice, Rome, Naples.

Returning to Russia, I was shocked by the beauty of Russian nature. His admiration for Russia after a long separation was expressed in the films: “White Winter”, “February Blue”, “March Snow” and many others.

4. View the artist’s paintings.

“September Snow”, “Rook’s Nest”, “Sunrise”, “Winter Morning”, “Winter Evening”, “March Snow”, “March”, “February Azure”.

5. The history of the creation of the painting.

“I stood near a marvelous specimen of birch, rare in the rhythmic structure of its branches. Looking at her, I dropped the stick and bent down to pick it up. When I looked at the top of the birch from below, from the surface of the snow, I was stunned by the spectacle of fantastic beauty that opened before me: some chimes and echoes of all the colors of the rainbow, united by the blue enamel of the sky. Nature seemed to be celebrating some unprecedented festival of azure skies, pearl birches, coral branches and sapphire shadows on lilac snow.”

It is not surprising that the artist passionately wanted to convey “at least a tenth of this beauty.”

6. What is a description?

Description is a type of speech with which you can present an object, characterizing it from different sides.

7. What is a landscape?

A landscape is an image of a painting.

8. Conversation with the class.

Why is the painting called “February Blue”?

What is the main palette of the painting?

Why exactly white and blue colors are used by the artist?

9. Consulting a dictionary.

A) light blue color. Pale as a lily in the azure of cornflowers. (Batyushkov)

B) the color of the sky, sea. Below him is a stream of lighter azure. (Lermontov)

B) sky blue. One star shines above me in the clear azure. (Pushkin)

D) light blue paint. Prussian blue.

10. Conversation with the class.

What is shown in the foreground of the picture?

What is the symbol of birch?

What do you feel when you look at Grabar’s painting “February Azure”?

What emotions does the birch tree painted by the artist in the foreground evoke in you?

Look at the sky, are there any clouds on it?

How does the color of the sky change towards the horizon?

Consider the snow. Does its color change in the sun and in the shade?

What colors does the artist use? Why?

Select a dictionary of colors and shades from the picture.

11. Image objects.

Sky: above, on the horizon.

Snow: in the sun, in the shade.

Birch: trunk, branches.

12. Words are helpers.

Sky: azure, blue, light blue, bottomless.

Snow: snow-white, pearl, azure.

Snow: sparkles, shines, sparkles, shines.

13. Synonyms - helpers.

An artist depicted, wrote, created a picture.

Painting – landscape, canvas, reproduction.

Birch is a Russian beauty, a symbol of Russian forests.

14. Expressions are helpers.

The artist's love for depicting the joyful state of nature.

Festival of Lights.

Admiration for the Russian beauty.

Pearl tints of white and blue.

Lace weave of branches.

Azure sky.

Premonition of spring.

15. Example of a descriptive essay.

In front of me is a reproduction of Grabar’s most beautiful painting, “February Azure.” Everything about it is simple and incomparable. An amazing February day is depicted. Frosty and sunny. The weather was favorable. There's not a cloud in the sky. It is azure and blinding with blue. Near the horizon it is light blue, but above it is blue, and this blueness goes into infinity. The snow sparkles and sparkles. It is lilac in the sun and blue in the shade.

In the foreground is a beautiful branchy birch tree. Its trunk is pearly white, and the branches and last year’s foliage at the top are red-brown. Other birches are common, they are less majestic. Along the horizon line in the background you can see a bush stretching like a solid wall, also red-brown in color.

The artist conveyed the beauty of nature on his canvas. When you first meet the painting, you are struck by the blue glow coming from it. The color blue, the main color of the painting, helped convey the fantastic beauty. In nature, everything is immersed in azure light, which is why the painting is called “February Blue.”

This landscape evokes a joyful and festive mood. I would like to visit here and see everything with my own eyes.

16. Essay plan.

• The author of the painting is I.E. Grabar.
• The time of year depicted in the painting.
• Author Image Items:
  • birch in the foreground (its structure, color of the trunk, branches)
  • trees in the background
• Image of the sky, snow near the trees.
• What mood does the painting evoke?

17. Homework.

Using the lesson material, write a descriptive essay based on I.E. Grabar’s painting “February Azure.”

A student of Repin, an outstanding artist and tireless cultural figure, Igor Emmanuilovich Grabar created many masterpieces of painting during his long career. The main genres in which the artist worked were portrait and landscape. Almost all the landscapes painted by Grabar glorify the beauty of the Russian region. One of his most famous works is the painting “February Blue,” painted in 1904.

Author biography

Before studying at the Imperial Academy of Arts, I. E. Grabar successfully received a legal and philological education at the University of St. Petersburg. In 1894, Grabar began studying painting at the Higher School of the Academy of Arts, where his direct mentor was I. E. Repin himself. Grabar continued to study painting until 1901. He spent several years abroad, in Munich and Paris.

Over his long 90 years of life, Igor Emmanuilovich Grabar influenced the development of Russian painting and culture, not only creating many, but also being an active figure in various artistic associations, as well as the creator of restoration workshops, trustee and director of the Tretyakov Gallery.

Famous works

The artist’s most widely known works are exhibited at the Tretyakov Gallery, including the painting “February Blue”, as well as the paintings “March Snow”, “Untidy Table” and “Chrysanthemums”. All of the above works were written in the 1900s. - a period recognized as the most inspired and productive in the artistic career of I. E. Grabar.

Many of the artist's early works are characterized by the realism inherent in the Academic school, however, throughout his studies and subsequent career, Grabar chose the most suitable artistic method for himself - divisionism. All of the artist’s completed works were written in this style.

Divisionism in painting

Divisionism is an offshoot of a painting method called pointillism, which is based on the manner of painting or drawing with dots. Points can be isolated from each other or non-isolated.

Divisionism became a distinct style thanks to its complex, almost mathematical approach to image creation. A special characteristic of the style is its almost 100% rejection. Divisionism is based on the division of a complex color or shade into a number of “pure colors” and applying them to the canvas with strokes of the correct shape (not necessarily dots). The strokes are applied with the precise expectation that as a result the viewer will see exactly the shade that was originally divided into the spectrum of its constituent colors.

The history of the creation of “February Azure”

Igor Emmanuilovich Grabar is one of those artists who are not afraid to leave the beaten path and strive to paint the familiar with new colors.

Even during his studies, Grabar showed interest especially in those that reveal to the viewer the simple beauty of the Russian winter. Snow allows you to make the most of the visual advantage of the divisionist technique.

The painting (Grabar) “February Azure” was inspired by the moment. Walking through the winter Moscow region, Grabar looked at a beautiful, tall birch tree, with incredibly slender, almost symmetrical branches. The author raised his head and saw a cascade of colors and shades above him - the magic of nature created by birch branches, sky blue and many incredible, somehow not winter shades. This sight impressed the artist so much that his most famous painting was painted under the influence of the moment.

Painting “February Azure”: description and analysis

Both the author of the picture and many critics see something fantastic, fabulous in a simple, unpretentious image. The birch tree, like a magical bird, spread its rich wings across the expanse of the blue sky. Bright splashes of green and brown create the feeling of approaching spring - it is not here yet, but as if it is about to come around the corner.

Why the painting is called “February Blue” and not something else is explained by the technique of execution. In divisionism, artists try not to mix paints, and the necessary shades are created through a process of strategically calculated combination of strokes made with “pure” colors. In “February Blue” there is heavenly blue, against which rainbow birch trees shine - that very blue.

A distinctive feature of the artist I. E. Grabar was the ability to transform everyday landscapes, things and images familiar to Russian people into magical paintings and fairy-tale canvases filled with color, air and deep reverent love for his native land. The painting (Grabar) “February Azure” is a clear confirmation of this.

(1871-1960) - famous Soviet artist, painter, art critic, professor, teacher, restorer. During his creative career, he created many wonderful paintings, which today are considered a real treasure of Russian art. One of the most famous paintings by I. Grabar is considered to be a work called “February Blue”.

The landscape “February Azure” was painted in 1904. Oil on canvas. Dimensions: 141 x 83 cm. Located in the State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow. The painting was painted in the style of impressionism. The mood of the picture is joyful and bright. In this work, Igor Emmanuilovich tried to convey a sunny winter day in a birch grove. Thanks to his talent, the artist was able to convey not only the landscape itself, its realistic appearance and the slightest nuances, but also the very character of a sunny winter day. When looking at the picture, you create a feeling of something beautiful, joyful and bright, which takes you away from everyday life and glorifies the beauty of the Russian forest, the silence of a birch grove, light frost, the crunch of snow underfoot, the rays of the sun, which even in winter warm and promise the imminent arrival of the long-awaited spring.

In the foreground we can see a birch tree that has spread its branches and permeates the entire space of the picture with its majestic beauty. Here I. Grabar chose a perspective in which the viewer looks at the trees from the bottom up, which makes the birches, as well as the entire space of the picture, even more impressive in their size and scale. The unusual perspective, as well as the bright color of the work, made the painting not just a beautiful landscape, but a real masterpiece. Looking at this work, it immediately becomes clear that in its basis and details there is something elusive that makes the nature of the Russian forest unusually attractive and exciting the heart, soul and imagination.

The painting “February Azure” also foreshadows the arrival of spring. There is a certain sadness in this about parting with winter. The sun begins to shine brighter. The frosts are receding. The trees have already shed their caps of snow and soon streams will run through the forest, and buds will begin to swell on the birches. The picture is filled with the quick awakening of nature after a long hibernation. From the mixed feelings of sad parting with winter and the joy of the arrival of spring, the picture becomes even more exciting and touches the heartstrings.

The history of the painting “February Azure” began after the artist went to his friends’ dacha in February 1904. During his walk around the neighborhood, when it was a sunny day, the artist accidentally dropped a stick. Bending down to pick it up, he turned his head and suddenly saw something that struck him to the core. From a different angle, ordinary nature began to sparkle with completely different colors, the nearby snow shone, the trees seemed more majestic, the sky seemed even bluer. Igor Grabar immediately ran home to make the first sketch. The next day he went to the same place, dug a trench in the snow to install an easel and got to work. Thus was born a masterpiece of Russian art, which today delights and delights art lovers and visitors to the State Tretyakov Gallery.

Grabar Igor Emmanuilovich (1871-1960). "February Azure" 1904

The honorary title of Honored Artist was established in our country in 1928, and the first artist to receive it was Igor Emmanuilovich Grabar. Indeed, his services to Russian and Soviet art are very significant. A remarkable artist and an outstanding restorer, a tireless researcher and an active organizer of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Monuments, a museum worker - this is not a complete list of the activities in which I. Grabar’s talent was manifested. He himself said: “Just as I could not live without art, so I could not live a day without labor.”

Self-portrait with a hat. 1921
Cardboard, oil. 65 x 51 cm
Private collection

I. Grabar served art as a painter and artist, as an art historian and as an art critic. His path as a painter is very long, and there are few artists who can show their works painted over more than sixty years. A I.E. At his anniversary exhibition in 1951, Grabar demonstrated both works from the end of the last century and those that had received the final touches just before the vernissage.

He could never simply contemplate the world around him and always strived to capture it in colors. I. Grabar the artist is characterized mainly by two painting genres - landscape and portrait. He discovered a new Russian landscape, and not every painter is given the happiness of seeing the old in a new way, of showing the unusual in the ordinary.

Roofs under snow. 1889
oil on canvas, 25x33.5

I. Grabar began to try his hand at landscape painting back in the late 1880s, when he painted “Roof with Snow.” This canvas foreshadowed one of the main themes of I. Grabar’s landscape painting - the theme of Russian winter and Russian snows.

This theme especially captured the artist in the first decade of our century, and subsequently reminded of itself more than once. According to I. Grabar himself, he always strived for “objective truth in painting”; He set himself the educational task of “conveying nature to the point of complete illusion, to the point of impossibility of distinguishing between nature and canvas with painting.”

The main early landscapes of I. Grabar were created in 1903-1908. The year 1904 was especially successful for the artist, when he painted such paintings as “Rooks’ Nests,” “March Snow” and “February Blue.” It was these landscapes that primarily attracted the attention of viewers at the exhibition of the Union of Russian Artists in 1904. Critics called I. Grabar’s canvases “almost the best at the exhibition,” because it’s rare to see someone “like his, conveying nature.” But at that time he was a young artist, just beginning his creative path.

Success with the public and critics was especially important because the Union of Russian Artists was at that time the leading exhibition association, which included the most gifted artists in its ranks.

"February Azure"
1904
Oil on canvas. 141 x 83 cm
State Tretyakov Gallery

And I. Grabar wrote his “February Azure” in the winter and spring of 1904, when he was visiting friends in the Moscow region. During one of his usual morning walks, he was struck by the holiday of the awakening spring, and subsequently, being already a venerable artist, very vividly told the story of the creation of this canvas.
“I stood near a marvelous specimen of a birch tree, rare in the rhythmic structure of its branches. Looking at it, I dropped the stick and bent down to pick it up. When I looked at the top of the birch from below, from the surface of the snow, I was stunned by the spectacle of fantastic beauty that opened before me: some chimes and echoes of all the colors of the rainbow, united by the blue enamel of the sky. Nature seemed to be celebrating some unprecedented festival of the azure sky, pearl birches, coral branches and sapphire shadows on the lilac snow.” It is not surprising that the artist passionately wanted to convey “at least a tenth of this beauty.”

I. Grabar has repeatedly admitted that of all the trees in central Russia, he loves the birch most, and among the birches, its “weeping” variety. And indeed, in “February Azure”, birch is the only basis of the artistic image. The very appearance of this tree, the ability to see its charm in the general structure of the Russian landscape, reflected the artist’s joyful perception of the nature of the Russian region, which distinguished I. Grabar the landscape painter in all periods of his work.

This time, the artist quickly returned home to get the canvas, and then in one session he sketched a sketch of the future painting from life. The next day, taking another canvas, he began to paint a sketch from the same place, which became everyone’s favorite “February Blue.”

I. Grabar worked on this painting outdoors, in a deep trench that he specially dug in the snow. The artist painted “February Blue” “with an umbrella painted blue, and placed the canvas not only without the usual tilt forward, facing the ground, but turned its face to the blue of the sky, which is why reflexes from the hot snow under the sun did not fall on it, and he remained in the cold shadow, forcing... to triple the power of color to convey the fullness of the impression."

In “February Blue” I. Grabar achieved extreme color saturation; he painted this landscape in pure color, applying brush strokes in a dense layer. It was precisely these tiny strokes that revealed the volumes of tree trunks, the patterns of branches, and the mounds of snow. The low point of view opened up the opportunity for the artist to convey all the gradations of blue - from light green at the bottom to ultramarine at the top.

I. Grabar was called (and he himself did not deny this) the last of the plein air painters of Russia. But, having mastered the best achievements of impressionism, he found his own artistic style in art - unique and original. The nature of Russia acquired a completely new look in his landscapes, sparkled with rainbow colors, and was filled with a feeling of space and light. In this regard, I. Grabar continued and developed the principles that appeared in the works of I. Levitan, V. Serov, K. Korovin and other outstanding Russian landscape painters.

It has been repeated more than once that I. Grabar entered the history of Russian painting as the poet of Russian winter (although he painted both spring and autumn). But the winters of I. Grabar, his birches, snow are conceivable only here, only in Russia. The artist always considered this painting to be the most sincere and most pleasing work of his mature creativity.

"One Hundred Great Paintings" by N.A. Ionin, Veche Publishing House, 2002